Every Race is an Adventure!

I ran the 5.5 mile 400 W/canal road/1600N loop at noon averaging about 8:37/mi overall, with a half mile at about 7:00/mi down 1600N near the end. I'm feeling pretty good after the hard run Saturday. Just a couple of minor aches and pains.

This morning I ran the Lindon loop at an easy pace with Larry, Wayne, Kevin and a couple of dogs.

Solo run on the Orem library route. Average pace 8:32/mi.

I was planning to run with Larry and Wayne this morning, but with the strong wind and rain I guess they decided to run later. I saw Lyle running past when I was at the "meeting corner" so I ran with him. I hadn't run or talked with him for a while until I dropped off my son's car at his shop the day before. He told me he signed up for the Utah Valley marathon in June, and he's also planning on St. George. He's in his 50's and only started running 2 or 3 years ago but it appears he has caught the running bug.

Lyle was only going about 4 miles so I went another couple of miles alone. I only averaged about 9:30/mi in the wind and rain, and I think I slowed down after Lyle stopped. Oh well, miles are miles...and getting out on bad weather days builds character...like digging holes...right?

I ran the Orem library route solo again this morning. When I run alone on dark mornings that's usually the route I end up picking. I like the mostly flat, will-lit route...except maybe for the frequent canyon wind and slight uphill for most of the return trip. I averaged 8:27/mi this morning. My average pace on this route is gradually improving, although most mornings I think the temperature has more of an effect on my pace than my fitness...the warmer it is, the faster I go.

I'm getting a little nervous about the Ogden marathon a month from now. I really need to get a few long runs in, but I need to be careful to not overdo it. I'm thinking of maybe 15 or 16 easy miles tomorrow, maybe up Provo Canyon for the first time this spring, but we'll see what the other guys are wanting to do.

Larry, Wayne, Kevin and I began our morning run by bravely running into the wind as we headed towards Provo Canyon. Kevin and Larry aren't training for a spring marathon, so they weren't going as far as Wayne and me and they turned back as we continued on.

Wayne and I ended up running out 7.5 miles, from my neighborhood to a little past Bridal Veil Falls, and then back for a total of 15 miles. I ran a warm up mile solo around the block before we started so I ended up with 16 miles.

After battling the wind and uphill, it was nice to turn around and head down the canyon with a tail wind. We got in a couple of miles around 8:15 pace and one down around 8:00. The climb up 800 N slowed us down, but we managed to run the last mile in 8:09. We averaged 8:55/mi overall for the 15 miles. For a long "slow" run, we both felt like we worked pretty hard and felt good about our efforts and the results. I was surprised how quickly I recovered from the run. My legs felt strong and I had no lingering pains (knock on wood).

Our plans are to run from my neighborhood to Vivian Park and back (17.5 miles) next Saturday, and from the mouth of the canyon to Trefoil and back (20 miles) in two weeks.